A New Class of Retrocausal Models

Globally-constrained classical fields provide a unexplored framework for modeling quantum phenomena, including apparent particle-like behavior. By allowing controllable constraints on unknown past fields, these models are retrocausal but not retro-signaling, respecting the conventional block universe viewpoint of classical spacetime. Several example models are developed that resolve the most essential problems with using classical electromagnetic fields to explain single-photon phenomena. These models share some similarities with Stochastic Electrodynamics, but without the infinite background energy problem, and with a clear path to explaining entanglement phenomena. Intriguingly, the average intermediate field intensities share a surprising connection with quantum “weak values”, even in the single-photon limit. This new class of models is hoped to guide further research into spacetime-based accounts of weak values, entanglement, and other quantum phenomena.

[1]  Daniel C. Cole,et al.  The quantum dice: An introduction to stochastic electrodynamics , 1996 .

[2]  Aephraim M. Steinberg,et al.  Weak values and neoclassical realism , 2018 .

[3]  Timothy H. Boyer,et al.  A Brief Survey of Stochastic Electrodynamics , 1980 .

[4]  Ritchie,et al.  Realization of a measurement of a "weak value" , 1991, Physical review letters.

[5]  Huw Price,et al.  Action Duality: A Constructive Principle for Quantum Foundations , 2011, Symmetry.

[6]  Ken B. Wharton,et al.  Time-Symmetric Boundary Conditions and Quantum Foundations , 2010, Symmetry.

[7]  Huw Price,et al.  Disentangling the Quantum World , 2015, Entropy.

[8]  H. Price.  Toy Models for Retrocausality , 2008, 0802.3230.

[9]  M. B. Heaney.  A Symmetrical Interpretation of the Klein-Gordon Equation , 2012, 1211.4645.

[10]  Beyond the dynamical universe. Unifying block universe physics and time as experienced , 2019, Contemporary Physics.

[11]  Dustin Lazarovici.  A relativistic retrocausal model violating Bell's inequality , 2015, Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences.

[12]  Bell’s theorem and the causal arrow of time , 2008, 0807.2041.

[13]  Lawrence S. Schulman,et al.  Experimental Test of the "Special State" Theory of Quantum Measurement , 2012, Entropy.

[14]  R. Sutherland.  Lagrangian Description for Particle Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics: Entangled Many-Particle Case , 2015, Foundations of Physics.

[15]  K. Wharton.  A Novel Interpretation of the Klein-Gordon Equation , 2007, 0706.4075.

[16]  Huw Price,et al.  A Probabilistic Version Outlined 3 Metaphysics Confused with Epistemology ? 4 Unavoidable Circularity ? 5 Unmanipulable Causes ? , 2008 .

[17]  Ken B. Wharton,et al.  Quantum States as Ordinary Information , 2014, Inf..

[18]  Richard Corry.  Retrocausal models for EPR , 2015 .

[19]  Huw Price,et al.  Agency and Probabilistic Causality , 1991, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.

[20]  Matthew F Pusey,et al.  Is a time symmetric interpretation of quantum theory possible without retrocausality? , 2016, Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences.

[21]  J. Dressel.  Weak Values as Interference Phenomena , 2014, 1410.0943.

[22]  Emily Adlam,et al.  Spooky Action at a Temporal Distance , 2018, Entropy.

[23]  A Local $$\psi $$ψ-Epistemic Retrocausal Hidden-Variable Model of Bell Correlations with Wavefunctions in Physical Space , 2018, Foundations of Physics.

[24]  M. S. Leifer,et al.  Is the Quantum State Real? An Extended Review of -ontology Theorems , 2014, 1409.1570.

[25]  F. Nori,et al.  Classical field approach to quantum weak measurements. , 2013, Physical review letters.

[26]  Y. Aharonov,et al.  The Two-State Vector Formalism: An Updated Review , 2008 .

[27]  Basil J. Hiley,et al.  An ontological basis for the quantum theory , 1987 .

[28]  P. N. Kaloyerou.  The GRA Beam-Splitter Experiments and Particle-Wave Duality of Light , 2005 .

[29]  A. Harrison.  Wavefunction collapse via a nonlocal relativistic variational principle , 2012, 1204.3969.

[30]  David J. Starling,et al.  Interferometric weak value deflections: Quantum and classical treatments , 2009, 0906.4832.

[31]  H. Price.  Time's arrow and Archimedes' point new directions for the physics of time , 1997 .

[32]  A. Jordan,et al.  Colloquium : Understanding quantum weak values: Basics and applications , 2013, 1305.7154.

[33]  Steven Weinstein,et al.  Learning the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlations on a Restricted Boltzmann Machine , 2017, 1707.03114.

[34]  R. Sutherland.  Bell's theorem and backwards-in-time causality , 1983 .

[35]  Keith A. Markus,et al.  Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation , 2007 .

[36]  F. Nori,et al.  Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretation , 2013 .

[37]  Are Retrocausal Accounts of Entanglement Unnaturally Fine-Tuned? , 2015, 1510.03706.

[38]  Huw Price,et al.  New Slant on the EPR-Bell Experiment , 2010, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.

[39]  Vaidman,et al.  How the result of a measurement of a component of the spin of a spin-1/2 particle can turn out to be 100. , 1988, Physical review letters.